Randall M Macdonald: 3 books

Florida's first theme park, Cypress Gardens, was the brainchild of Richard Downing Dick" Pope Sr. With his wife, Julie Downing Pope, he transformed a marshy, lakeside property in Winter Haven into a magnificent garden. The park's first visitors in 1936 toured pathways surrounded by lush plants from around...

In 1911, Ohio entrepreneur George E. Sebring was drawn to the raw south-central Florida peninsular wilderness, known for bountiful fishing and game. After cofounding Sebring, Ohio, in 1898, he envisaged another eponymous town that would attract new residents to this largely unsettled area located 30...

Lakeland celebrates the history of one of central Florida�s most scenic cities. The small town that encompasses dozens of lakes was perfectly named in 1883, and grew to include an eclectic mix of downtown buildings, elegant hotels, roadways, handsome parks, and picturesque neighborhoods. By mid-century,...